70 years of Gardening Pride

THE Longford Garden Club is everyone’s perennial favourite – its glorious, colourful characters are passionate about gardening and on August 12 the club proudly reached its 70th anniversary.

More than 100 past and present members attended a celebratory morning tea at the Longford Bowls Club and witnessed the cutting of the cake and drawing of a raffle Its longest-serving member, Lee DeBruyn, talked about her 40-year involvement and how it all began.

The Life Member and patron recalls her first meeting at the Council Chambers and when she sat down she was promptly told she was in someone else’s chair - there was no doubt that tradition was held dear. “At one meeting the only decision to be made was on the scones for afternoon tea,” she recalled.

“At the flower shows the president (Mary Williams) sat at a separate table with the judges and was served a cream sponge made by Mrs Green and Mary would change into a special dress for the opening which was conducted by someone of importance.

“Mrs Burton boiled up the chicken for the lunches and was very much in charge of the kitchen.

“Members were kept busy with a lot of social events, doing the wedding flowers at Jessen Lodge, flowers for the library and at the flower shows with massive stage displays.”

These days the club is far more casual, but still putting on spectacular shows and passing on invaluable knowledge, and there’s no doubt the morning and afternoon teas are just as delicious.